Alice Vlasak: Please protect what MATR’s

Published: Thursday, January 3, 2013 at 9:38 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 3, 2013 at 9:38 a.m.

My main concern about texting is the danger it poses to what MATR’s. “MATR’s” would be, I suppose, texting slang for “Matters.” Let’s join together to protect what MATR’s. What matters to me are my family, friends, and fellow citizens, who drive around exposed to the risks of “texters”.

During the holidays we all take the time to ponder what is most important to us. Included in this are the family and friends that are frequently on the road traveling to see us. We hope they are driving under the safest possible conditions as a result of their choices and those of others on the roadways. Distracted driving, like drunken driving, is a major concern for people who care about the wellbeing of individuals driving safely and attentively on America’s roads.

Texting must be the new fun “Thing”. Everyone does it, especially when driving, riding bikes, walking around town, while talking on another phone, or even while talking with friends in public places. Last week a young couple at Bagelland sat on the front porch on a beautiful sunny day, but rather than engage one another, they both held their phones and didn’t utter a word for the 10 minutes I stood there. My decision not to text is mainly because I still enjoy talking way too much. Another reason for holding out on this technology is the fact that I have poor typing skills, and furthermore I can’t read texts without glasses, which would be really frustrating for me.

Texting has altered the driving flow in Gainesville. Writing this allowed me to reflect on how driving in Gainesville has evolved since my family moved here in 1972. Back then, the roads were pretty quiet with a population of about 104,000 in Alachua County, which has now grown to about 249,354. Essentially the population of the area has doubled with little real road expansion. When I started to drive in the late 70’s a red light meant Stop!. In the last 15 years Gainesville saw a huge growth in yellow, and more recently red-light runners. I trained my now-driving kids to count to 5 after the light turns green, so all the red light runners have gone and they are safe to move on.

Now, we are in another phase of the Gainesville driving dimension or evolution, in which a red light really means “Text.” All heads are down at lights, and when the light turns green people now just sit there. Like drunk drivers, these texters drive too slowly and often swerve down the road. It is truly amazing to me! Whoever thought typing and driving mixed well? What’s the difference between drinking and driving and texting and driving- well it turns out not much.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) web site has listed texting as a leading cause of distracted driving. In fact texting while driving increases the risk of a crash by 23 times. It is especially dangerous because it requires 3 activities to be done simultaneously, needing visual, manual, and cognitive attention to do it. Eleven percent of drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported to be distracted at the time.

Humans are notoriously poor at assessing daily risks, me included. I hate to fly, but it turns out the risk of dying in an automobile crash is about 100 times more likely than in a plane related accident. Driving is the most dangerous thing we do every single day of our lives. We place our bodies in a 1- to 2-ton chunk of metal that moves on wheels. Driving must be done with care and constant attention. It is so commonplace we dismiss the risks. Legislation is in progress in Florida to make texting while driving illegal, but just common sense and a sense of self-preservation should also help deter texting while driving. Most people abhor drunk driving, but texting and driving is not any safer. Why make our daily drives more dangerous for ourselves and other fellow humans on the roads?

Mothers against drunk driving (MADD) was started by mothers uniting to fight drunk drivers. Mothers (and fathers, parents, brothers, sisters) need to unite to protect what MATR’s. Our kids in the car are who and what matters. We need to teach our kids the real dangers of texting and driving, and lead by example and not do it ourselves, especially when others are in the car watching our example. Let us practice what we preach, and not text and drive. Whether 18 or 50, the distraction level for drivers is the same. Buses say it, law firm signs say it, and now I beg parents, friends, families, and any drivers to consider this. It is such a simple act to ignore the phone while driving, especially when you consider we often do it for 2 hours while in the movies. Until 15 or so years ago, there were not even any routine phones even in the car, and we survived just fine.

Let’s concentrate on this one driver at a time, so that we can band together to protect what MATR’s. Look around the next time you stop at a red light and you will be shocked at all the heads down for texting. Imagine how much safer the Florida roadways would be if all drivers committed themselves to driving with their heads up. Head’s up and protecting what matters can begin with us! Let’s make this our New Year’s Resolution one driver at a time.

<p>My main concern about texting is the danger it poses to what MATR's. “MATR's” would be, I suppose, texting slang for “Matters.” Let's join together to protect what MATR's. What matters to me are my family, friends, and fellow citizens, who drive around exposed to the risks of “texters”.</p><p> During the holidays we all take the time to ponder what is most important to us. Included in this are the family and friends that are frequently on the road traveling to see us. We hope they are driving under the safest possible conditions as a result of their choices and those of others on the roadways. Distracted driving, like drunken driving, is a major concern for people who care about the wellbeing of individuals driving safely and attentively on America's roads.</p><p>Texting must be the new fun “Thing”. Everyone does it, especially when driving, riding bikes, walking around town, while talking on another phone, or even while talking with friends in public places. Last week a young couple at Bagelland sat on the front porch on a beautiful sunny day, but rather than engage one another, they both held their phones and didn't utter a word for the 10 minutes I stood there. My decision not to text is mainly because I still enjoy talking way too much. Another reason for holding out on this technology is the fact that I have poor typing skills, and furthermore I can't read texts without glasses, which would be really frustrating for me. </p><p></p><p>Texting has altered the driving flow in Gainesville. Writing this allowed me to reflect on how driving in Gainesville has evolved since my family moved here in 1972. Back then, the roads were pretty quiet with a population of about 104,000 in Alachua County, which has now grown to about 249,354. Essentially the population of the area has doubled with little real road expansion. When I started to drive in the late 70's a red light meant Stop!. In the last 15 years Gainesville saw a huge growth in yellow, and more recently red-light runners. I trained my now-driving kids to count to 5 after the light turns green, so all the red light runners have gone and they are safe to move on.</p><p>Now, we are in another phase of the Gainesville driving dimension or evolution, in which a red light really means “Text.” All heads are down at lights, and when the light turns green people now just sit there. Like drunk drivers, these texters drive too slowly and often swerve down the road. It is truly amazing to me! Whoever thought typing and driving mixed well? What's the difference between drinking and driving and texting and driving- well it turns out not much.</p><p>The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) web site has listed texting as a leading cause of distracted driving. In fact texting while driving increases the risk of a crash by 23 times. It is especially dangerous because it requires 3 activities to be done simultaneously, needing visual, manual, and cognitive attention to do it. Eleven percent of drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported to be distracted at the time. </p><p>Humans are notoriously poor at assessing daily risks, me included. I hate to fly, but it turns out the risk of dying in an automobile crash is about 100 times more likely than in a plane related accident. Driving is the most dangerous thing we do every single day of our lives. We place our bodies in a 1- to 2-ton chunk of metal that moves on wheels. Driving must be done with care and constant attention. It is so commonplace we dismiss the risks. Legislation is in progress in Florida to make texting while driving illegal, but just common sense and a sense of self-preservation should also help deter texting while driving. Most people abhor drunk driving, but texting and driving is not any safer. Why make our daily drives more dangerous for ourselves and other fellow humans on the roads?</p><p>Mothers against drunk driving (MADD) was started by mothers uniting to fight drunk drivers. Mothers (and fathers, parents, brothers, sisters) need to unite to protect what MATR's. Our kids in the car are who and what matters. We need to teach our kids the real dangers of texting and driving, and lead by example and not do it ourselves, especially when others are in the car watching our example. Let us practice what we preach, and not text and drive. Whether 18 or 50, the distraction level for drivers is the same. Buses say it, law firm signs say it, and now I beg parents, friends, families, and any drivers to consider this. It is such a simple act to ignore the phone while driving, especially when you consider we often do it for 2 hours while in the movies. Until 15 or so years ago, there were not even any routine phones even in the car, and we survived just fine.</p><p> Let's concentrate on this one driver at a time, so that we can band together to protect what MATR's. Look around the next time you stop at a red light and you will be shocked at all the heads down for texting. Imagine how much safer the Florida roadways would be if all drivers committed themselves to driving with their heads up. Head's up and protecting what matters can begin with us! Let's make this our New Year's Resolution one driver at a time.</p><p>Alice Vlasak </p><p>Gainesville</p>